SUBURBAN GANG ACTIVITY LEADS TO THREE ARRESTS

Bond was set Friday for two members of the Sureno 13 street gang, who were arrested along with another Sureno 13 gang member, after a police manhunt that saw a helicopter pilot locate one suspect stuck in a marsh and another who was located hiding under a log by a police dog, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart said.

Sheriff's police were conducting surveillance on suspected gang members
in the area of Route 53 and Lake Cook Road. Police had been told to expect criminal activity related to gang violence in that area and around 11 p.m. Wednesday night, sheriff’s police officers conducting surveillance noticed three men leave an apartment and enter an SUV, two with shotguns.

As the suspects drove away, an attempt was made to stop them at Wilke and Dundee roads. The driver would not stop and police chased them to Lake Cook and Hicks roads, where the suspects stopped and immediately fled their vehicle on foot.

The driver was immediately captured by police without incident, but two passengers fled into the woods, one carrying a shotgun with him.
A perimeter was established around the woods by officers from multiple police agencies and the Cook County Sheriff’s helicopter and K9 units were called in to assist in the search.

Using thermal imaging devices, sheriff’s police in the helicopter were able to spot one offender lying in a marsh. Shining a spotlight on the offender, they noticed he was under 6 to 12 inches of water, motionless, with only his face above water. Using loudspeakers, officers on the perimeter warned that offender to put his hands up, but he did not move.

As police approached him on foot, that offender noted that he was unable to move his body because he was stuck in the marsh.

By 2 a.m. Thursday, weather conditions did not permit the helicopter unit to continue, so Cook County Sheriff’s Police Officer Jim Pacetti and his bloodhound, Melanie, were called in for tracking. Melanie sniffed the seat where the third offender had been sitting and then led officers about a mile into the woods and through marshes to the offender, who was hiding under a log.

One shotgun was recovered from the SUV and another was found in the woods, a short distance away from the offender hiding under the log.

Hiram Chavez, 36, of the 2200 block of West Nichols in Arlington Heights, was the driver of the SUV. He is charged with fleeing and eluding, a misdemeanor.

Victor Lujano, 27, of the 300 block of Salem Road in Arlington Heights, was captured after getting stuck in the marsh. He was seen by police with a shotgun and is charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. Sheriff’s police have had several encounters with Lujano and he has been warned numerous times to stay out of the private apartment complexes in the area. At the Rolling Meadows courthouse on Friday, bond was set for him at $60,000.

Jorge Gonzalez-Macedonio, 31, address unknown, was captured by Melanie while hiding under a log. He is charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. He told police he has previously been arrested on felony charges and was previously turned over to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and deported to Mexico. At the Rolling Meadows courthouse on Friday, bond was set for him at $50,000.

All three are admitted members of the Sureno 13 street gang.

Sheriff Dart thanked officers from the Illinois State Police, Lake County Sheriff’s Department, as well as the Palatine, Northbrook, Arlington Heights and Kildeer police departments and the Long Grove Fire Department for their assistance in the investigation.

Lujano and Gonzalez-Macedonio remain in the Cook County Jail. All three are set to appear in Rolling Meadows court in April.